SIX hours of celebrations to mark Greater Manchester's contribution to World Friendship Day begin today.

They focus on the home of Colin and Claire Brown at Timperley, near Altrincham.

Colin is president of Greater Manchester Friendship Force Club, which matches people for week-long home stays in other countries and hosts visiting clubs. The friends will link up across the world via a special website.

Colin, of Somerville Gardens, said: "People from here will travel to Japan in October for a week's stay with families, while others in Aichi and Ota-Gunma will welcome visitors from Missouri and Turkey."

Since the Friendship Force was created in 1977 by President Jimmy Carter, his wife, and clergyman Wayne Smith, 600,000 people have experienced how other nationalities live.

Colin said: "We believe that a world of friends can be a world of peace."